'I love her more than words can say': boyfriend’s tribute to marathon girl Claire Squires as fund shoots past £400,000

The boyfriend of Claire Squires, the runner who collapsed and died a mile from the London Marathon finishing line, spoke of his devastation today as donations for her chosen charity surpassed £400,000.

The death of Ms Squires, 30, prompted huge public support on her fundraising website.

She attracted £500 for the Samaritans before starting Sunday’s race but today the total was going up by more than £300 a minute, with nearly 27,000 individual donations. By lunchtime it was £399,052.70 including £79,810.54 in Gift Aid tax breaks.

Ms Squires was described as “the most incredible girl” by her boyfriend of two and a half years Simon Van Herrewege, 31, a property developer from Leicestershire. “She was happy-go-lucky and so driven. She had a heart of gold,” he said. “I love her more than words can say and she will be dearly missed.”

Leicestershire hairdresser Ms Squires chose the Samaritans in memory of her brother Grant, 25, who suffered depression and died from an overdose in 2001 after surviving a car crash which killed his girlfriend.

Ms Squires’s parents Paul, 62, and Cilla, 63, a Samaritans volunteer, were being comforted at home by her sisters Maxine, 38, Nicola, 32, and Penelope, 28.

The family said in a statement: “We are all devastated. It’s a total shock because she was such a fit girl. We’ve no idea what caused her death.

“Claire has raised thousands of pounds over the years for charities. If any more money can be raised that would be fantastic.”

Family and friends are “totally overwhelmed” by the support from strangers and friends alike, said Maxine.

Nicola went on Facebook to urge people to donate, writing: “Something good has got to come out of this.”

It was Ms Squires’s second marathon. Last year she climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in aid of the Royal Air Force Association. Catherine Johnstone from the Samaritans said the charity would dedicate a fund in her name.

Ms Squires is the tenth person to die in a London Marathon since the first race in 1981. Tests will be carried out to establish the cause of her death.